Feeling Overwhelmed: My Friend's Tastefully Simple Business

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Discussion Overview

This thread centers around a participant's feelings of overwhelm regarding a friend's new business venture with Tastefully Simple and the impact it has on their own Pampered Chef business. Participants share their thoughts on how to navigate the situation and express their personal experiences with similar challenges.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Opinion-based
  • Anecdotal

Main Points Raised

  • One participant, identifying as a consultant, expresses feeling overwhelmed by a friend's new Tastefully Simple business, which has affected their own sales and leads.
  • Another participant shares their experience of needing to prioritize their own business and suggests communicating this to the friend.
  • Several users mention the importance of saying no and focusing on one's own business, emphasizing that it's acceptable to set boundaries.
  • One participant notes that a true friend should understand the need to prioritize one's own business over hosting for another company.
  • Another participant highlights the potential for the friend to offer support or ideas to help the original poster's business.
  • Some participants discuss the differences in product pricing between Pampered Chef and Tastefully Simple, suggesting it may affect sales dynamics.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Views differ on how to handle the situation with the friend, with some participants advocating for clear communication and boundary-setting, while others emphasize the importance of maintaining supportive relationships.

Contextual Notes

The discussion reflects personal experiences and feelings related to balancing friendships and business obligations within the direct sales context.

Who May Find This Useful

Consultants navigating similar feelings of overwhelm or conflict between personal relationships and business priorities may find the shared experiences and suggestions relevant.

H
Humble Beginnings
Messages
667
Kind of in a slump today. I have a friend, who when I first started PC, threw my first party to help me qualify. She was great and did receive about 400.00 in orders and threw the party at her home. The problem is that she decides last month to join Tastefully Simple. She wants to partner with me on booths etc which is great but here's the problem. One, she completely cut the leads that I received from her show because she has asked all of them to throw a party for her, so that sucked. Now she wants me to do a party for her and pretty much expects it. She says call 30 people etc and just keep passing it around. Right now I have nothing on the books for September and getting worried. I need to make my list of 100 and start calling. I'm trying to generate income for myself and now feel I have to do this. I just can't see right now with me starting out and trying to get people to book for me, where I'm going to find people to order from her. I can't say no because I know she will say well I did it for her. Yes, but I really didn't have many people to do it for me, she has about 14 people lined up and just signed up. She kicks my butt in sales at work and I know she is going to do so much better than me with this so I'm feeling really down on myself and everything else going on around me.

Ok thank you for listening.
 
Let her know that you would be happy to do a show for her in a few months. Explain that you have to give your business first priority as she is doing with hers. When she held a show for you she wasn't doing Tastefully Simple but you have been doing PC.

If a friend asked me to hold a show for another DS company, I would have to say "No". It isn't being selfish but practical. You can always order from her if you don't want to host a show.

Basically, don't feel obligated to hosting a show for her, but be supportive in other ways.
 
Okay, first of all, you CAN say NO!! If you sit down with your friend and explain to her that you need to concentrate on your business right now, she should understand. Let her know that right now is just not the right time for you to do a show for her, but that you will down the road. Now's just not a good time. If she's a true friend, she should understand.

I sure hope you can get your calendar filled. Your list of 100 is a great place to start!
 
I understand you feel you can't say no. But what about this:

"Hey Suzy, I would love to host a show for you, but right now isn't a good time for me. I'm struggling to get shows of my own on my calendar and my total attention right now is to my business. So right now, I need to make calls to my family/friends to book a show with me, not to have a party. Maybe after I get my business going, we'll get together then."

You're not saying no to her, just not now.

So after you tell her this...GET ON YOUR PHONE BABY! No one can help you get shows booked on your calendar other than you.

YOU CAN BE JUST AS GOOD AS SHE IS TOO!!! Prove it to yourself ~ YOU are what matters! Get your head out of the sand, brush off, pull up your big girl panties and pick up the phone & start making those calls!

REMEMBER: Ask them...is no, never or not right now. Ask if you can all back in a few months. When I do, I feel I have persmission to bug them LOL!
 
I would add to what Ginny said if she brings up how she helped you or even if she doesn't: "I know you will understand especially since you have so many parties lined up already and I am really struggling right now. I want to be there for you when you're in a tuff spot down the road like when you helped me. I'm there again and really need to focus or risk losing my business. "
 
Addie4TLC said:
I would add to what Ginny said if she brings up how she helped you or even if she doesn't: "I know you will understand especially since you have so many parties lined up already and I am really struggling right now. I want to be there for you when you're in a tuff spot down the road like when you helped me. I'm there again and really need to focus or risk losing my business. "
Click to expand...

Perfect! There you've got the words now...good luck!
 
You never know... If she's a good friend she may even come up with ideas to help you right now. Let us know what happens and I hope your business picks up.
 
  • Thread starter
  • #8
Kitchen2u said:
I understand you feel you can't say no. But what about this:

"Hey Suzy, I would love to host a show for you, but right now isn't a good time for me. I'm struggling to get shows of my own on my calendar and my total attention right now is to my business. So right now, I need to make calls to my family/friends to book a show with me, not to have a party. Maybe after I get my business going, we'll get together then."

You're not saying no to her, just not now.

So after you tell her this...GET ON YOUR PHONE BABY! No one can help you get shows booked on your calendar other than you.

YOU CAN BE JUST AS GOOD AS SHE IS TOO!!! Prove it to yourself ~ YOU are what matters! Get your head out of the sand, brush off, pull up your big girl panties and pick up the phone & start making those calls!

REMEMBER: Ask them...is no, never or not right now. Ask if you can all back in a few months. When I do, I feel I have persmission to bug them LOL!
Click to expand...

You made me laugh, esp the big girl panties, going to have to pick up some of those for sure. Thank you :)
 
Humble Beginnings said:
You made me laugh, esp the big girl panties, going to have to pick up some of those for sure. Thank you :)
Click to expand...

Okay, now that I've changed your mood to happy...get happy on the phone girlfriend!:D:D:D:D
 
remember TS products are much "cheaper" than many of ours, so you will probably have better sales or she is going to have to sell a gazillion mixes to beat you (Although, honestly I wouldn't allow myself compare my business to hers just like I don't compare other PC cluster members to my own business we each get from it what we put forth) .
 

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I do if I feel overwhelmed by my friend's Tastefully Simple business?

Feeling overwhelmed is common in direct sales. Start by communicating with your friend about your feelings. Set clear boundaries regarding your involvement and take breaks when needed. Focus on what aspects of the business excite you and consider participating in those areas only.

How can I support my friend without feeling pressured to join Tastefully Simple?

You can support your friend by attending their events, providing encouragement, and sharing their products with others if you feel comfortable. Make it clear that your support is not an indication of your desire to join the business, and prioritize your own comfort and boundaries.

What are some signs that I might be feeling overwhelmed with my friend's business?

Signs of feeling overwhelmed may include anxiety when discussing the business, feeling pressured to attend events, or losing interest in activities you once enjoyed. If you find yourself frequently stressed or avoiding conversations about Tastefully Simple, it may be time to reassess your involvement.

How can I balance my friendship with my feelings about their Tastefully Simple business?

Balancing friendship and business can be tricky. Maintain open communication with your friend about your feelings. Set aside time for non-business-related activities to strengthen your friendship and ensure that your relationship is not solely based on their business endeavors.

What resources are available if I want to learn more about direct sales without feeling overwhelmed?

There are many resources available, such as online forums, books on direct sales, and local workshops. Consider joining groups that focus on direct sales education, where you can learn at your own pace. This way, you can gain knowledge without feeling pressured to participate in any specific business.

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